ARTIST BIO
“I’m feeling pretty humbled and grateful these days,” says former Uncle Lucius frontman turned celebrated solo artist Kevin Galloway “I’m very comfortable being on my own, and I’m enjoying the more intimate shows and the opportunity to dig into the stories behind the songs. I’ve always gravitated towards songs that I can connect to on a personal level, so this is perfect for me.”
The Austin-American Statesman’s Peter Blackstock described Galloway as “one of Austin’s finest singers. His voice is rich, full of character and versatile; he can swing from an easygoing croon to a full-on soulful shout.” The artist has gained similar acclaim for his songwriting, with the Austin Chronicle, which noted that the artist “salves easy, country-licked melodies that contemplate gentle pleasures.”
Kevin Galloway grew up in Freeport, TX, in the shadow of the chemical cooling towers that were a constant reminder of the industrial accident that had disabled and almost killed his father. Resettling in Big Sandy as a teenager, Kevin joined his college choir, took a job at the local bank branch, and spent some time as a music minister for his local church. At 25, he followed his creative muse to Austin. There, he found enthusiastic collaborators in the future members of Uncle Lucius, who soon earned a regional fan base and a reputation as one of Texas’s most celebrated and innovative bands.
Over the next few years, Uncle Lucius’ rousing R&B/blues/country-inflected rock ’n’ roll wowed live crowds across the country and established the band as local heroes in their music-savvy hometown. But after nearly 15 years of musical success and personal camaraderie with Uncle Lucius, Galloway felt that it was time to move on and transition to a solo career. He did so, decisively, with his 2018 solo debut The Change, which expanded on Galloway’s work with his former band while echoing the tradition of the various classic Texas troubadours whose work has inspired him over the years.
For some artists, the prospect of leaving the comfort of an established band might seem a bit reckless. But for Galloway, now a family man with a wife and two young children, making music remains a matter of survival.
“My overall outlook is less self-centered now,” he states, adding, “I’ve quite enjoyed the transition to solo work. I had gotten burned out by album cycles and the ever-spinning wheel. Now, not pushing myself constantly to keep the machine running has led to more freedom and happiness for me. And there are other advantages to solo decision-making, as opposed to an all out democracy. I’ve grown more confident in my abilities, and more mature in my handling of the ups and downs.
“I can’t really tell if my approach to the music has really changed,” he concludes. “But I realised long ago that I’m at my best when I pay attention to inspiration and feeling, and just let everything unfold on its own.”
Secondhand Starlight is Kevin Galloway’s second solo album, following a productive decade-and-a-half run as charismatic frontman of the beloved Austin, TX combo Uncle Lucius. The ten-song set continues Galloway’s emergence as one of his home state’s most distinctive and compelling vocalists and songwriters, with a personally charged edge that consistently gives his compositions an effortless emotional resonance.
